Analysis of small RNA in fission yeast; Centromeric siRNAs are potentially generated through a structured RNA

Ingela Djupedal, Isabelle C. Kos-Braun, Rebecca A. Mosher, Niklas Söderholm, Femke Simmer, Thomas J. Hardcastle, Aurélie Fender, Nadja Heidrich, Alexander Kagansky, Elizabeth Bayne, E. Gerhart H. Wagner, David C. Baulcombe, Robin C. Allshire, Karl Ekwall

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

59 Scopus citations

Abstract

formation of heterochromatin at the centromeres in fission yeast depends on transcription of the outer repeats. These transcripts are processed into siRNAs that target homologous loci for heterochromatin formation. Here, high throughput sequencing of small RNA provides a comprehensive analysis of centromere-derived small RNAs. We found that the centromeric small RNAs are Dcr1 dependent, carry 5′-monophosphates and are associated with Ago1. The majority of centromeric small RNAs originate from two remarkably well-conserved sequences that are present in all centromeres. The high degree of similarity suggests that this non-coding sequence in itself may be of importance. Consistent with this, secondary structure-probing experiments indicate that this centromeric RNA is partially double-stranded and is processed by Dicer in vitro. We further demonstrate the existence of small centromeric RNA in rdp1Δ cells. Our data suggest a pathway for siRNA generation that is distinct from the well-documented model involving RITS/RDRC. We propose that primary transcripts fold into hairpin-like structures that may be processed by Dcr1 into siRNAs, and that these siRNAs may initiate heterochromatin formation independent of RDRC activity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3832-3844
Number of pages13
JournalEMBO Journal
Volume28
Issue number24
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2009

Keywords

  • Centromeres
  • RNAi
  • S. pombe
  • Small RNA

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Immunology and Microbiology

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